This should not come as a surprise to hear that true freshman tight end Michael Mayer has performed well early on in training camp. The first-year play arrived in South Bend with plenty of hype, that’s usually what happens when you have 5-stars next to your name as a recruit. Not all recruits live up to their billing but so far so good for the Kentucky native.
Irish Illustrated’s Tom Loy doesn’t think Mayer will start but will play a big role for Notre Dame when the season begins. “(Tommy) Tremble is ready for a breakout season at tight end for Notre Dame, but don’t be surprised to see a lot of Michael Mayer this season for the Fighting Irish. From what we at Irish Illustrated have been told, the former five-star recruit is already making waves as a true freshman. His size, hands, route-running, and overall ability makes him a sure bet to contribute right away for Notre Dame this season.”
We saw a true freshman impress on the field last year as Kyle Hamilton made play after play and is expected to take another leap this season as he is set to be in a starting role. Loy see’s Mayer impact “in a similar fashion to when one-time five-star safety Kyle Hamilton arrived on the scene as a freshman last fall.”
Back to back years with big time freshman contributing early is a great sign for Brian Kelly. Not only would the Irish be cashing in on their current recruiting success, they could turn this around and show current high school prospects that you won’t need to ride the pine and earn your stripes. This is fantastic news coming out of fall camp for Mayer, Kelly and Notre Dame Football.